This publication summarises the results of a survey on mobility of the population, conducted throughout Queensland during October 2000 as a supplement to the Monthly Population Survey.

Information was collected on persons who moved in the last three years, such as main reason for leaving the previous home, main reason for choosing to live in the current area and main reason for choosing the current home. Also included is information on tenure type, dwelling structure, size of yard and employment prospects as a consideration for moving, whether the selected person had grown up in the current area or lived there previously, and whether they had lived with all the same people in the previous home.

Information on housing extensions added by persons who did not move in the last three years is also included.

For persons intending to move in the next three years, information includes main reason likely to move, when the move is likely to occur, the likely destination and whether they expect to live with the same people in their next home.

This information is cross-classified by a range of data items such as age group, location of past and present dwellings, distance moved and year of arrival for those persons born overseas.

FINDINGS

In October 2000 there were 1,078,500 persons in Queensland aged 18 years and over who had moved in the previous three years (41.4%) compared with 1,525,600 persons who had not moved (58.6%).

The most mobile age group was between 25 and 34 years, with 67.5% (358,400) having moved in the last three years. The percentage decreases steadily as age increases, with only 13.7% (51,200) of the 65 years and over age group having moved.

Just under three quarters (69.9% or 70,800) of unemployed persons were movers. This contrasts with 44.5% (740,500) of employed persons and 31.8% (267,200) of persons not in the labour force. Of all movers, 20.0% (215,900) identified better employment prospects as a consideration for moving.

Generally, persons with post-school qualifications were more likely to have moved than persons without such qualifications. For example, 55.2% (128,500) of persons with bachelor degrees had moved, compared with 38.4% (555,200) of those without post-secondary qualifications.

Of persons in group households, 80.3% (125,000) had moved. In contrast, this percentage ranged from 35.2% to 52.4% for persons in all other household types.

The most likely movers were persons living in a semidetached, row or terrace house, a town house etc. with 79.7% (143,500) having moved. Of those who lived in a flat/unit/apartment, 68.6% (133,800) moved in the last 3 years. Persons who lived in separate houses 35.9% (790,000) were the least likely to have moved. Of all movers 35.7% (385,300) considered the size of the yard when moving.

In the last three years, only 14.4% (114,800) of current home owners had moved. This compares with 74.9% (551,500) of renters and 38.3% (288,700) of purchasers.

1a - MOVERS AND NON-MOVERS(a), Selected Characteristics

NUMBER

PROPORTION

Movers

Non-movers

Total(b)

Movers

Non-movers

Total(b)

'000

'000

'000

%

%

%

Age group

18 - 24 years

220.4

129.7

350.1

63.0

37.0

100.0

25 - 34 years

358.4

172.4

530.8

67.5

32.5

100.0

35 - 44 years

226.6

315.0

541.7

41.8

58.2

100.0

45 - 54 years

142.5

342.3

484.7

29.4

70.6

100.0

55 - 64 years

79.3

244.2

323.5

24.5

75.5

100.0

65 years and over

51.2

322.1

373.3

13.7

86.3

100.0

Sex

Male

545.7

747.0

1,292.7

42.2

57.8

100.0

Female

532.7

778.7

1,311.4

40.6

59.4

100.0

Country of birth

Australia

811.6

1,207.5

2,019.2

40.2

59.8

100.0

Main English-speaking countries(c)

146.3

170.1

316.4

46.2

53.8

100.0

Other countries

120.6

148.0

268.6

44.9

55.1

100.0

Year of arrival

Before 1997

201.7

313.3

515.0

39.2

60.8

100.0

1997-2000

65.2

*4.8

70.0

93.1

*6.9

100.0

Not applicable(d)

811.6

1,207.5

2,019.2

40.2

59.8

100.0

Employment

Employed

740.5

922.4

1,662.9

44.5

55.5

100.0

Unemployed

70.8

30.5

101.3

69.9

30.1

100.0

Not in the labour force

267.2

572.7

840.0

31.8

68.2

100.0

Post-school qualifications(e)

Higher degree

15.1

27.3

42.4

35.7

64.3

100.0

Postgraduate diploma

21.1

23.9

45.1

46.9

53.1

100.0

Bachelor degree

128.5

104.2

232.7

55.2

44.8

100.0

Undergraduate diploma

28.4

53.6

81.9

34.6

65.4

100.0

Associate diploma

40.7

55.2

95.9

42.4

57.6

100.0

Skilled vocational qualifications

198.9

272.3

471.2

42.2

57.8

100.0

Basic vocational qualifications

87.9

94.6

182.4

48.2

51.8

100.0

Out of scope/not applicable(f)

555.2

889.9

1,445.0

38.4

61.6

100.0

Total for each characteristic(b)

1,078.5

1,525.6

2,604.1

41.4

58.6

100.0

* estimate has a relative standard error of between 25% and 50% and should be used with caution.(a) Movers are defined as persons who moved in the last 3 years.(b) Total includes some 'not stated' responses. (c) Main English-speaking countries (MES) include United Kingdom and Ireland, New Zealand, United States of America, Canada, North America not defined and South Africa.(d) Persons born in Australia.(e) 'Uncodeable/inadequately described' and 'not stated' responses are only included in the total.(f) 'Out of scope/not applicable' includes persons who have not completed any tertiary qualification or have no post secondary education.

1b - MOVERS AND NON-MOVERS(a), Selected Characteristics continued

NUMBER

PROPORTION

Movers

Non-movers

Total(b)

Movers

Non-movers

Total(b)

'000

'000

'000

%

%

%

Household type

Person living alone

99.2

154.1

253.3

39.2

60.8

100.0

Married couple only(c)

259.2

476.8

736.0

35.2

64.8

100.0

Married couple with children(c)

397.3

651.9

1,049.2

37.9

62.1

100.0

Single parent with children

79.8

104.9

184.7

43.2

56.8

100.0

Group households(d)

125.0

30.7

155.7

80.3

19.7

100.0

Other households

118.1

107.1

225.2

52.4

47.6

100.0

Current dwelling structure

Separate house

790.0

1,413.5

2,203.5

35.9

64.1

100.0

Semidetached, row or terrace house, town house, etc.

143.5

36.5

180.0

79.7

20.3

100.0

Flat/unit/apartment

133.8

61.2

195.0

68.6

31.4

100.0

Other dwelling

11.1

14.4

25.6

43.6

56.4

100.0

Current tenure type

Owner

114.8

683.8

798.6

14.4

85.6

100.0

Purchaser

288.7

464.3

753.0

38.3

61.7

100.0

Renter

551.5

184.7

736.2

74.9

25.1

100.0

Boarder

15.7

**2.6

18.3

85.8

**14.2

100.0

Rent-free

96.3

174.2

270.5

35.6

64.4

100.0

Other(e)

10.9

14.1

25.0

43.7

56.3

100.0

Current area of usual residence

Brisbane Major Statistical Region

484.4

718.0

1,202.4

40.3

59.7

100.0

Balance of Queensland Major Statistical Region

594.1

807.7

1,401.7

42.4

57.6

100.0

Total for each characteristic(b)

1,078.5

1,525.6

2,604.1

41.4

58.6

100.0

** estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use.(a) Movers are defined as persons who moved in the last 3 years.(b) Total includes some 'not stated' responses.(c) Married Couple includes persons who are in a de facto relationship.(d) Person living with non-relatives only.(e) Other includes persons who responded 'life tenant' and 'participant of rent/buy (or shared equity) scheme' responses.